Deck sweeping assembly for bowling alleys



J y 1961 J. H. HARPER 2,992,827

DECK SWEEPING ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Dec. '7, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.[

I Z/ i July 18, 1961 HARPER 2,992,827

DECK SWEEPING ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Dec. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 18, 1961 .1. HARPER ,8

DECK SWEEPING ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Dec. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 atent Patented July 18, 1961 2,992,827 DECK SWEEPING ASSEMBLY FOR BOWLING ALLEYS This invention relates to pinsetters which are employed at the pin end of a bowling alley lane to replace the services normally performed by a pin boy.

The invention more particularly relates to a sweep assembly which is capable of removing bowling pins and/or balls from the alley deck and the adjacent gutters. The sweep assembly is normally located astride the alley deck whereat the bowling pins are set in playing position.

In pinsetters the operation thereof may be controlled by the bowler or be semior completely automatically controlled. The sweep system to be described and claimed is usable with either automatic, semi-automatic or manually controlled pinsetters or as a separate unit.

In the past difficulties have been found in providing movement of the hoe or deck sweeping portion of the sweep parallel to the alley deck for a sufficient distance therealong. Prior art systems are subject to jamming because of the insufficient parallel movement and in addition the mechanisms are complex and expensive.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a sweep assembly for a bowling alley deck which overcomes the defects of prior art systems.

According to the present invention, a hoe-shaped sweeping head is hingedly supported at the extremities of a pair of arms which are rotatably secured at their opposite ends to an overhead framework at points symmetrically placed with respect to the alley. The support arms provide an arcuate movement of the hoe longitudinally with respect to the alley deck. A cam operated hoe paralleling mechanism is incorporated to provide parallel movement of the sweeping portion of the hoe with respect to the alley deck for a sufficient distance therealong during the sweeping stroke to push pins or balls, which may be on the deck, into the alley pit from whence they may be returned to their playing positions. The cam means provide that the hoe is raised clear of the deck and held in this position during the return stroke and idle periods of the sweep.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a side view of the sweep assembly according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the assembly of FIGURE 1 as seen from the pin end of the alley, and

FIGURES 3a, b, c and :1 show schematic link drawings helpful in illustrating the operation of the sweep assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 designates a bowling alleydeck having gutters 2 on either side thereof. The sweep assembly mechanism of the invention is supported on cross frame members 3, only one of which is shown, secured to side channel members 4 which in turn are supported on the raised side walls or kick-backs 5 of the alley and further vertical supports, not shown, located ahead of the kickboards. Two lengthwise running frame members 6 are supported over the alley deck by cross frame members 3. Secured to members 6, as for instance by welding, are two inverted trough configured members 7 upon which the major'portion of the sweep assembly is mounted. A drive motor 11 and speed reduction unit 12 are mounted on the right hand member 7 as clearly shown in FIG. 2. A cross support member 8, here shown in tubular form, is secured to members 7 at 9 and 10 respectively.

Cross support 8 projects beyond members 7 at both sides and is utilized to support suspended bearing members 13 in which is journalled a shaft 14. A pair of sweep support arms 15 are secured by nuts 16 to shaft 14 to be rotatable therewith. A sweep head or hoe 17 is hinged by bearings 20 to the lower ends of sweep support arms 15. The hoe 17 as shown comprises two curved or hoe-shaped side members having two vertically spaced sweep rods 18, 19 secured therebetween and parallel to the alley deck 1. Shoes 42 are provided at either end of the sweep hoe to facilitate clearing of the gutters. The sweeping action is carried out by a movement of hoe 17 to the right as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. On the return stroke to the left hoe 17 is raised from the alley deck by paralleling rods 21 hinged to the hoe at 22 and controlled by a mechanism to be described subsequently.

The sweeping movement of sweep support arms 15 is effected by crank arms 23 secured to and rotating with a shaft 24 rotatably journalled in bearings 29 secured to frame members 7. Shaft 24 is driven by electric motor 11 through the medium of speed reduction unit 12, sprockets 25, 26 and chain 27 shown in broken line form in FIG. 1. The direction of movement of the chain is shown by the arrow in FIGURE 1 and provides for a counterclockwise rotation of shaft 24 and associated crank arms 23. Crank arms 23 are connected to sweep support arms 15 by driving rods 28 to cause a to-and-fro motion of the sweep with each revolution of shaft 24.

The parallel hoe control mechanism will now be described. A cam member 30 is secured to shaft 24 to rotate therewith. A cam arm 31 having a cam following roller 32 is rotatably secured to frame member 6 at 33. Movement of cam arm 31 is transmitted by means of rod 34 to a crank arm 36 secured to a hollow shaft 35. Shaft 35 is concentric to shaft 14 and is :free to rotate with respect thereto. A pair of crank arms 37 secured to shaft 35 transmit the motion of cam arm 31 through paralleling rods 21 to hoe 17 as best shown in FIGURE 1. The weight of the hoe 17 is preferably sufficient to provide a tendency for counter-clockwise rotation of hoe 17 about bearings 20 ensuring that cam roller 32 follows the contour of cam 30 during rotation of the latter. The height of parallel sweep rods 18, 19 above the alley deck 1 may be adjusted by the lengthening or shortening of rods 21 and/or 34. The operation of the sweep assembly will now be described. FIGURE 3a shows the sweep system in its initial or rest position. Cam rider 32, not shown, is at the highest point 38 on cam 30 and the sweep hoe mechanism 17 is in its extreme left and raised position. The rest position can be adjusted by adjustment of rods 28 and 34. Crank arms 23 are in a substantially horizontal position directed away from the sweep arms 1.5.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the sweep hoe 17 is shown shortly after the start of the sweep cycle. Shaft 24 has started to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow, and cam follower 32 has moved from high point 38 on cam 30 to the position shown in FIGURE 1. The rotation of shaft 24 from the rest position to that shown causes a small movement to the right of the sweep support arms but the drop in cam level is such as to lower the hoe from its raised inactive position out of the way of play to that shown where it is in a position to remove deadwood from the alley deck.

As shaft 24 continues to rotate, the sweep support arms move to the right with a maximum velocity occurring at the center of their line of travel, see FIGURE 3b. As the sweep approaches the center of the line of travel, it will be noted that cam follower 32 will ride over the raised portion 40 of cam 30 to compensate for the radius of swing of sweep support arms the bearing points of which approach the alley deck most closely at the center of their swing. Cam 30 is contoured between points 38 and 40 so that the line of travel of bar 19 of sweep hoe I7 is maintained substantially parallel to the alley deck. As the sweep moves to the right past the center, hoe 17 must be lowered to compensate for the are described by bearings 20 supporting the sweep hoe. In the extreme right hand position at the end of the sweep, cam follower 32 rests at low point 39 on cam 30. This is best illustrated in FIGURE 30.

As the rotation of shaft 24 continues, the sweep begins its return movement from the extreme right hand position. Cam 30 is contoured so that immediately on starting the return stroke hoe 17 is lifted clear of the alley deck and maintained in the raised position while being returned to the normal position of rest. The position of the hoe 17 during the return stroke is best illustrated in FIGURE 30?.

By proper choice of the lengths of crank arms 23, 36, 37, cam arm 31 and contour of cam 30, a wide range of sweep distances and actions are possible as will be realized by those skilled in the art. It also becomes possible, according to the invention to arrange the sweep to take only a small space vertically and thus renders the assembly suitable for low-ceiling alleys. It should be realized that cam 3t need not operate parallel control rod 21 through a system of cranks and rods but may do so directly. If this is done, it is preferable that the cam be mounted on a shaft concentric with shaft 14 from which the sweep support arms 15 are suspended. It is desirable to provide means to deenergize the sweep assembly driving motor automatically on completion of a complete sweep cycle. An electrical switch may be provided in proximity to cam arm 31 so that the motor is de-energized when cam follower 32 is at high point 38 on cam 31.

Other modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention which may become apparent to those skilled in the art are defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling alley deck sweeping assembly comprising, a supporting framework located above the portion of an alley deck to be swept, a pair of suspended sweep supporting arms having their upper ends journalled in the said framework to allow longitudinal arcuate movement of the lower ends of said supporting arms with respect to said alley deck, a sweeping device having a hoe-like portion for clearing the said alley deck, means securing said device between the lower ends of said supporting arms to allow vertical movement of said hoe-like portion with respect to said deck, driven crank means connected to said supporting arms to provide said longitudinal arcuate movement, a rotating cam driven in synchronism with said crank, and cam following means, associated with said cam, mechanically coupled 'to said sweeping device and controlling the vertical movement of said hoe-like portion during the oscillating movement of said support arms.

2. In a deck sweeping assembly for a bowling alle a supporting framework located above the portion of the deck it is desired to sweep, means supporting a sweeping device having a deck sweeping portion on first and second pairs of suspended parallel arms, said first pair of which is supported for limited longitudinal and arcuate movement over said deck and about a shaft secured to said framework, two crank means each rotatably jo-urnalled on said shaft and having an outer end pivotally secured to the upper end of one of said second pair of arms, driving means connected to said first pair to produce said movement and rotate a cam wheel, and a cam follower operative in conjunction with said cam wheel controlling the rotation of said two crank means.

3. In a deck sweeping assembly for a bowling alley, a supporting framework located above the portion of the alley it is desired to sweep, a pair of parallel arms suspended from hearings in said framework immediately opposite each other with respect to the length of said alley and allowing longitudinal arcuate movement of the lower ends of said pair with respect to said alley, drive means providing said longitudinal arcuate movement, a sweeping device secured to the lower ends of said pair of arms and having an active sweeping portion movable in a vertical direction with respect to the lower ends of said pair, a rotating cam wheel driven by said drive means, and a cam following member, associated with said wheel, controlling the vertical movement of said active sweeping portion.

4. In a bowling alley deck sweeping assembly, a supporting framewonk located above the portion of an alley deck to be swept, a first pair of suspended support arms fastened at their upper ends to and rotatable about fixed points immediately opposite to each other and symmetrically placed with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said portion, a sweeping device having a deck sweeping portion hingedly supported crosswise to said alley by said first pair of support arms, means providing a limited oscillating arcuate movement of said sweeping device with respect to said alley and about said fixed points, a second pair of suspended support arms hingedly secured to said sweeping device at points symmetrically placed with respect to said centerline and longitudinally displaced with respect to said first pair, a cam wheel driven by said means providing arcuate movement, and cam following means associated with said cam wheel and supporting the upper ends of said second pair of arms to control the distance between said deck sweeping portion and said deck during said oscillating movement.

5. In a deck sweeping assembly for a bowling alley a supporting framework located above the portion of the alley it is desired to sweep, a first pair of suspended arms hingedly supporting a sweeping device having a sweeping head for limited oscillating arcuate movement lengthwise with respect to said alley and about a point on said framework, a second pair of suspended support arms the lower ends of which are symmetrically and longitudinally displaced with respect to said first pair of arms and hingedly secured to said sweeping device, a cam wheel rotatable in conjunction with said oscillating movement, and a cam following means supporting the upper ends of said second pair of arms and continuously controlling the distance between the sweeping head and said deck during the period of said oscillating movement.

6. In a deck sweeping assembly for a bowling alley, a supporting framework located above the portion of the alley it is desired to sweep, a pair of suspended arms hingedly supporting a sweeping device having a sweeping head for limited oscillating arcuate movement longitudinally with respect to said alley and about a point on said framework, a further suspended support arm hingedly secured at its lower end to a point on said device displaced longitudinally of the alley with respect to said pair of arms, a cam wheel rotating in synchronism with said movement, and a cam following means, associated with said cam wheel, supporting the upperend'of'said arm and controlling the distance between said sweeping head and said deck during the period of oscillatory movement of said pair of arms. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,212 Redfield Sept. 18, 1923 1,573,643 Proch Feb. 16, 1926 2,388,708 Bates NOV. 13, 1945 2,860,877 Came Nov. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 532,151 Canada Oct. 23, 1956 

